This article was co-authored by Tami Claytor and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Tami Claytor is an Etiquette Coach, Image Consultant, and the Owner of Always Appropriate Image and Etiquette Consulting in New York, New York. With over 20 years of experience, Tami specializes in teaching etiquette classes to individuals, students, companies, and community organizations. Tami has spent decades studying cultures through her extensive travels across five continents and has created cultural diversity workshops to promote social justice and cross-cultural awareness. She holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in International Relations from Clark University. Tami studied at the Ophelia DeVore School of Charm and the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned her Image Consultant Certification.
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Whether you have a serious political question or you just want to drop a line to say hello, there are several tried and true ways to contact the President of the United States. We’ll cover all of your options, and also drop some knowledge when it comes to actually getting someone to respond. As a note, be aware that you might never receive a response, and if you do, it will likely be from a staff member rather than the President himself. Still, that shouldn’t stop you. Besides, you never know what will catch a world leader’s eye!
Things You Should Know
- Mail a handwritten or typed letter to The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.
- Dial 1-202-456-1111 to leave a message for the President.
- Use the White House Contact Page to send a message to the President using their online form.
- Message the President on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter if you prefer to use social media.
Steps
Sample Letters to the President
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1Write your letter to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. If you write your letter by hand, be neat. You can also type and print your letter—it’s totally up to you. Write an honest and respectful letter, stating your thoughts clearly and reasonably.[1] The full address is:
- The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
- The White House
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2Format the letter according to the White House rules. Use 8.5 by 11 in (22 by 28 cm) paper. If you’re going to handwrite the letter, use black ink and skip the fancy gel pens. Format your letter the same way you’d format a business letter.[2]
- Put your name and address, including your email address, at the top right corner of the letter, with the date written out below that.
- Use a formal salutation, such as, “Dear Mr. President,”
- Close with a formal salutation, such as, “Most Respectfully,”
- Print and sign your name.
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3Include a stamped return envelope and send your letter. If you want the President to reply to you, give them the return envelope they’ll need. Put you return address to the top left corner and put a stamp on the top right corner. On the return envelope, flip that and put your address in the middle.[3]
- Take your letter to the nearest mailbox and ship it off!
Phone
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1Dial 1-202-456-1111 to leave a comment for the President. The public comment line is designed for citizens who want to share an opinion or idea with the President. It’s run by volunteers who will record whatever you share and then send it to the relevant party (in your case, the President!).[4]
- If you are an expert in some field and seriously want to talk to the President, reach out to the relevant Cabinet first. For example, an expert in teaching methods would need to contact the head of the Department of Education.
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2Call 1-202-456-1414 to contact the White House’s switchboard. In theory, you’re only supposed to use this number if you have an extension or you’re on official business. But who’s to say you can’t give this number a shot if you want to speak to someone important? [5]
- While a White House employee will pick up the phone if you can get through the robo menus, you aren’t going to have any luck getting Joe Biden on the phone.
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3Call 1-202-456-6213 if you require TTY accommodations. If you’re hard of hearing or you need transcript services, this is the number for you. It’s likely run by the folks in the switchboard room, but they’ll probably help you leave a comment.[6]
- There’s also the White House visitor's office number, which is 202-456-2121, but that’s unlikely who you want to contact unless you have questions about a tour.
Website
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1Visit the official White House Contact Page. This is probably the most efficient way to get a message across since the White House actively requests you use the online contact page. It’s also just faster, too. Open the contact page and enter the following information:[7]
- First name
- Last name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Home address
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2Compose your message in the box at the bottom and send it. The White House website gives you about 300 words to say your piece. You can share your personal story, bring up concerns you may have, or even tell Mr. Biden your favorite knock knock joke. Remember to use the appropriate salutations, such as "Dear Mr. President," and "Most Respectfully, Jane Jennings."[8]
- Make sure that under “Message Type” it says, “Contact the President.” You can also use this page to reach out to the Vice President, or ask a general question.
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3Check out that Presidential Greeting form if you want a letter from the President. If you’re here just because you want to prove you talked to the President, or you want the President to send your loved one a congratulatory note, you’re in luck. In that “Message Type” box, select “Request a Presidential Greeting.” You’ll be redirected to a new form. There, select the occasion and enter your personal details to ask the President to send you a letter.[9]
- The odds are extremely high the letter you’ll get is just an autogenerated form letter, but hey, that’ll be our little secret.
Social Media
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1Log in to your preferred social media account. You can use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube to contact the White House or the President. If you don’t already have an account, sign up for a free account.[10]
- Be aware that the President may not have time to personally respond to your message. You can totally get the attention of a staffer, though.
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2Send a message to the President’s account. Write your message carefully and considerately. Avoid using inappropriate language or threats of any kind. Depending on the social media site, you can post using hashtags or handles, send a DM, or post directly on the President’s page or site.[11]
- For Twitter, you can either use @WhiteHouse, @POTUS, or @JoeBiden.[12]
- There are actually 3 different Facebook options: The White House, POTUS, or Joe Biden’s Personal Account.
- On Instagram, message Joe Biden. There is no rotating POTUS account like there is on other platforms.
- For YouTube, you can message the White House or Joe Biden’s channel.
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3Use neutral handles and hashtags in public comments. Use the handles @WhiteHouse and/or @POTUS, or the hashtags #WhiteHouse and/or #POTUS if you send public messages. The President's personal accounts may stop being monitored, but the official White House and POTUS accounts all change hands when a new President is elected. Using the neutral handles and hashtags will help your messages stay visible.[13]
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow will I get to meet the POTUS?
Community AnswerYou will have to talk with the congressperson who represents your congressional district, and then go through a three-month background check. Then you may qualify to meet the POTUS, and maybe the First Lady as well. -
QuestionWill I get a faster response using email or regular mail?
Community AnswerYou will get a faster response using email then regular mail. -
QuestionWhat is the fastest way to contact the White House?Community AnswerUse the White House website to send a message to the President. The site even states that this is the fastest way to contact POTUS.
Warnings
- Please be aware that you may not get a reply from the President or his staff.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Keep your letter, message, or call polite, professional, and appropriate. If it is judged to be threatening in any way, chances are very high that you will end up being investigated. Even if you're not a US citizen, you can suffer consequences, like being forbidden from entering the country, including permanently.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/write-or-call/
- ↑ https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/write-or-call
- ↑ https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/write-or-call
- ↑ https://theweek.com/articles/496043/who-answers-white-house-phone-anyway
- ↑ https://theweek.com/articles/496043/who-answers-white-house-phone-anyway
- ↑ https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
- ↑ https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
- ↑ https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
- ↑ https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
About This Article
To contact the President of the United States, send a letter addressed to the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500. You can also try calling the White House by dialing 202-456-1111 and asking to speak with the President, although you may be directed to someone else. Also, you can submit a comment to the White House by visiting whitehouse.gov/contact. If all else fails, try tweeting at the President by including the handle @POTUS at the end of your tweet. If you want to learn what tone to use when you reach out to the President, keep reading!
